Please Note: Due to volume considerations, not all questions can be answered. Questions most likely to be answered will be those of general interest to a broad group of visitors to this forum. Questions pertaining to a specific case; requests for diagnosis, medical advice, or second opinion; or requests for opinions about untested alternative therapies will generally not be answered.
Ask the Experts about Managing Side Effects of HIV Treatment
I have been positive for almost 13 years and have enjoyed reasonably good health since HAART. However, I did have problems with Crixivan and d4t but my doctor was afraid to change drugs for a long time since my viral load was kept in check. For the past year I have been taking viramune and combivir and most everything was going fairly well until August last year when I started having a terrible problem with tinnitus and with a progressive loss of hearing. My doctor finally sent me to an audioligsts who sent me to have a hearing test. Not surprisingly the test showed hearing loss. The doctor recommended very expensive (4k-5k per ear) digital hearing aids. I suspected the problem was associated with the drugs I was taking but neither my HIV doctor or the audiologist gave any hope of improvement. Neither even so much as mentioned ototoxicity. I did my own research on the Internet and have found quite a bit of information on this but need your recommendations as to the best drug combinations to take to lessen the toxicity. Thanks for any help.
Robert
Advertisement
>
Response from Dr. Henry
Tinnitus +/- hearing loss if fairly common in the general population. Finding a specific diagnosis and treatment is often a frustrating experience. None of your HIV drugs are associated with tinnitus to even a mild-moderate degree (it is rare). The 3TC component of Combivir can cause a peripheral neuropathy but it would be unusual to cause only hearling loss. Some other drugs are more commonly associated with that problem (such as the antibiotics called aminoglycosides). A 3-6 month switch to different HIV meds could be considered on a trial basis to see if the hearing improves-if not then I would go back to your current meds. I would only consider that since the problem is so severe and it would be otherwise difficult (in the absence of any other explanation) to rule out some contribution of your HIV drugs. There are many options for other HIV drugs that are possible depending on your prior treatment history. I might consider a PI based regimen (such as Kaletra + Viread + Ziagen) on a trial basis for 3-6 months. KH
Want to read more questions and answers on this subject? Our experts have answered many similar questions!
Please remember that this forum is designed for educational purposes only, and experts are not engaged through this
forum in rendering legal or medical advice or professional services. Experts appearing on this page are independent and are solely responsible
for editing and fact-checking their material. Neither The Body nor any sponsor is the publisher or speaker of posted visitors' questions or the experts' material.
Questions and messages posted to this forum are not statements of advice, opinion, or information of The Body, Body Health Resources Corporation or any sponsor of this
forum. While neither The Body nor Body Health Resources Corporation regularly reviews posted content, we reserve the right to delete, move, or
edit postings if we deem it appropriate under the circumstances. Visitors submitting questions remain solely responsible for the content of their
messages.
Information provided by experts is general only and should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease, or relied upon as
legal or other professional advice. This information is not a substitute for professional advice or care. If you have or suspect you may have a
health or legal problem, you should consult your own health care provider or your attorney.
E-Mail
Glossary
Response from Dr. Henry
